Car seat experts...come in...

Re: Car seat experts...come in...

• Arnegard member

  September 2013

  I am not an expert,

  But I also have a 5.5 yo and would not do backless.  The graco turbo booster is a good option as far as price and quality.  We have 2 of them.  I have read studies about the back protecting them in a side impact crash (due to the head rest).  I don't see the need to get a 3 in 1 seat if you only use it as a booster.  We can take the back off when the time comes, but DD1 is about 50-51 inches and still uses the back and will probably through the school year.

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• trizzie member

  September 2013

  Ok, that is what I was thinking. Definitely not backless, but wasn't sure if I should do the frontier or not. Thank you!!

  

  m/c 01-07-10

  Report0 Reply
• alake member

  September 2013

  If you were to buy a Frontier for DS, why not use it harnessed for at least another year, or until he outgrows the harness and then move him into a booster.  We have frontiers in DH`s truck for DD1 and 2.  They fit well.  Your DS is the same size as my seven and a half year old, weight and height wise.  She is pretty little for her age though.
  

  Report0 Reply
• penguingrrl member

  September 2013

  I would get a parkway booster at his age and size unless there are maturity issues. There is no evidence that a harness is safer than a properly used booster. He meets and exceeds the size minimums for a booster, so provided he can use it correctly (and will keep himself buckled) there's no safety advantage to a harness at this point.

  
  

  I'm personally more comfortable with the physics of a booster with adult belt provided children are old enough and large enough to safely use it. The harness rigidly restricts the torso while allowing the head and neck to fly freely where the adult seatbelt is designed to keep the entire spine in alignment. Just my own opinion. Carseat techs are torn on this exact question, although most techs I know would buy a booster for a neurotypical 5.5 year old of his size.

  

  Report0 Reply
• trizzie member

  September 2013

  Ok, thank you! He has been in a booster for a year now and has done fine with it. I wasn't planning to go back to harnessing even with the frontier, so I will get another parkway. Thank you.

  

  m/c 01-07-10

  Report0 Reply
• penguingrrl member

  September 2013

  Oh, if you aren't using it as a harness there's absolutely no reason to buy a frontier! The expense of those is to get the ability to harness longer since they have the tallest top harness slots and a high weight limit. It's overkill for most kids, but if you have a kid who is particularly huge but too young to booster or  has behavioral or cognitive delays it's a fantastic option.

  

  Report1 Reply
• trizzie member

  September 2013

  One more question - on the booster. We had the parkway SG before is the SGL necessary? Or is the SG sufficient? Thanks!!

  

  m/c 01-07-10

  Report0 Reply
• penguingrrl member

  September 2013

  The only difference is whether it's latch equipped. As far as I'm aware the only purpose latch serves in a booster is holding it in place if it's unoccupied so you/your child don't need to remember to buckle it. I'll admit mine aren't buckled each time. Nor do I secure everything in the trunk of my SUV. That stuff is about projectiles in an accident, which worry me less than they probably should.

  

  Report0 Reply